Have You Forgotten...?

As we kiss the summer sun goodbye, we tighten the reigns on the horse called motivation. There are goals to be met, quotas to be attained, and people to be directed. The sun deck gives way to snow plows, the short sleeves are traded for sweaters, and we immerse ourselves in the back stretch of another successful year. For some, it is a time to make up for the work they missed during the summer months, others keep grinding....and there are those who ponder their professional existence.

Do you love your job?

...it is not only possible to love your job, it is mandatory. I am not talking about satisfaction, I am talking about living your professional mission. You spend most of your waking hours at work, if you don't love what you do, you are cheating yourself.

Have you become apathetic?

...are you the person on the team that thinks everything is played out? Do you tell others, "it's just a job". Eliminating emotion from work is essential, but apathy is nothing more than a form of cowardice.

You know you don't want to be that person!

...The practice of pretending you are "too cool for school" is a result of the fact that you tried and failed. Instead of getting back on your horse, you stayed on the porch and rolled your eyes at those who were part of the charge.

It's Time to Get Your Groove Back!

Your Company Doesn't Matter
At any given point you can look at your company directives and call them detached from reality. No matter where you go, there will be people who you see through. Products will fail, you will lose based on things that are out of your control, and you may be passed over for a promotion because the boss' son graduated from college.

It's very easy to concentrate on what is not working....and to let the world defeat you!

Endure
You can say you tried being a team player and all is it got you was more work and distraction from your personal development. Life works that way! You will not fail if you never try nor will you grow if you do not accept the challenge that the world is bigger than yourself.

Celebrate People
I was once told by my Vice President not to get too close to my team....worst advice ever!

People are complex. Our thought process tends to take us away from our physical presence...and then we do stupid things. So if you are "in the moment", you are going to be annoyed if I didn't have my $5 bill in hand before I ordered. Deal with it!

I get it: you are smart, you are prepared, and you try hard. Therefore, you reserve the right to expect everyone to live up to your standard of excellence.

Ask yourself this: has your standard of excellence done any GOOD for anyone else?

...or is your preparation driven by your personal right of entitlement?

The easy thing is to surround yourself with people who validate your sense of entitlement. It is more difficult to step out and be challenged. Are you sitting on the porch because you know more than everyone or have you learned all you feel you are capable of and care not to reveal your vulnerability?

"...Have You Forgotten How to Love Yourself..." - Mark Kozelek

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave